Kiama: NBN switched on

Federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has switched on the National Broadband Network (NBN) in Kiama, labelling it a ‘‘significant milestone’’ in the government’s vision to roll out high-speed broadband nationally.

Senator Conroy was with Treasurer Wayne Swan and NBN Co chief Mike Quigley for the start of the trial at Kiama this morning.

More than 2000 homes in Kiama will be connected to high-speed broadband as the coastal town joins Armidale in northern NSW as the second mainland site to be switched on to the NBN.

Townsville, in Queensland, and Willunga and Brunswick, in South Australia, will be connected shortly.

Telstra, the Commonwealth and the network builder, NBN Co, signed definitive agreements for the rollout of the $35.9 billion scheme in June.

NBN Co plans to provide a fibre-optic cable network to 93 per cent of the population while the remaining seven per cent will have either fixed wireless or satellite broadband over the next decade.